Former Rep. Paul Broun announced he's running for Congress in Georgia's 9th District, and he faces not just a primary against an incumbent fellow Republican but the haze of an ethics investigation dating back to his last term in the House.

"Many might think I'm crazy to run for Congress again, but I am running because our nation deserves better than our current leaders. I've been a proven constitutional conservative fighter before, and I'll do it again if I have your support today!" Broun said in a statement announcing his candidacy that doubled as a fundraising plea. Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., won the 10th District seat that Broun vacated, which is in north-Central Georgia and includes Milledgeville, the home of the late Southern Gothic writer Flannery O'Connor. GOP Rep. Doug Collins represents the neighboring 9th District, which hugs the northern Georgia coastline and borders South Carolina on the eastern part of the state. Collins is running for re-election.

After spending $221,000 on the air in Indiana's 9th District over the past five weeks, Indiana Jobs Now, a super PAC backing Republican Trey Hollingsworth, has released an internal poll suggesting that the Tennessee transplant is gaining traction in the district.

The live caller poll of 600 likely Republican primary voters from National Research Inc. puts Hollingsworth's name recognition at 61 percent, closely trailing the 70 percent who recognize Attorney General Greg Zoeller, who's also running for the open seat. Three-term Rep. Todd Young is running for the GOP nomination for Senate. Conducted Feb. 21-23 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent, the poll's ballot test put Hollingsworth at the top of the five candidates surveyed. Hollingsworth garnered 17 percent, followed by Zoeller with 16 percent and state Sen. Erin Houchin with 9 percent. Trailing the field were state Sen. Brent Walz with 4 percent and engineer Robert Hall with 3 percent.

Bennett speaks with Heidi Zollo of Herndon at the Clearview Precinct at Clearview Elementary School in Herndon, Va. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)

Before the sun had risen over Langley High School in McLean, Va., Tuesday, LuAnn Bennett had passed in and out of the gymnasium to cast her vote for Hillary Clinton and positioned herself outside the exit.

Standing in front of a table of Dunkin' Donuts ("free for everyone") manned by volunteers for the Virginia Democratic party, Bennett, who's running for Congress in Virginia's 10th District, greeted early risers who straggled in to cast their vote for president on Super Tuesday.

It was close, but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee edged out their Republican rivals in 2015 – raising $68.2 million last year to the National Republican Congressional Committee's $62.3 million , according to a DCCC official.

But, the committee that helps elect and defend House Democrats ended 2015 with $29.3 million in the bank, about $1 million less than than the NRCC. A Democratic official said the committee ended the year "with over $17 million more cash on hand than the Committee had at this point in 2011, the last presidential cycle," and added it has no debt as the election year begins.

That announcement is sure be followed by more, touting seemingly major spending to spread messages to voters across digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the massive Google ad network, as well as growing platforms such as Snapchat. But what is not clear is just how far each dollar on digital will go.

The Florida man who flew a gyrocopter onto the Capitol lawn is turning toward a more conventional means to get into Congress: being elected.

Douglas Hughes, who pleaded guilty in November to a felony charge related to his April 15 flight, said he plans to run for a seat in the House, but is not yet announcing which Democrat he plans to challenge. Hughes faces a maximum of three years in prison with his guilty plea, which means he could be running for Congress from behind bars depending on his sentencing in April.

Walden is the chairman of the NRCC. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The National Republican Congressional Committee announced on Wednesday that 32 candidates qualified for the first tier of its "Young Guns" program, putting them "on the radar" in its program that provides organizational and fundraising help to its candidates.

“With working families still struggling in this weak economy and our national security under increasing threats, we must elect more Republicans to Congress who will work to strengthen our nation," NRCC Chairman Greg Walden said in a news release. "I am confident that these candidates will continue to work hard for their communities and build strong campaigns as we head into the election year.”

Rep. Chaka Fattah, the Philadelphia Democrat indicted on more than two-dozen counts of corruption, hired a campaign manager over the weekend and vowed to run for re-election — denying rumors that the legal battle ahead of him would force him to step aside.

Fattah will bring on Joe Certaine — a one-time aide to former Gov. Ed Rendell — to manage his campaign. Fattah also told CQ Roll Call on Monday he plans to roll out endorsements later this week, a move to show strength ahead of what's looking like a tough primary battle for his seat.

Farr was first elected in a 1993 special election to succeed Leon Panetta. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., announced Thursday that he'll retire from Congress after more than 22 years.

“For years my wife Shary has asked me to come home,” Farr said in a statement. “She's right. It's time. It's time to come home and spend time with her and with my daughter Jessica and my grandkids Ella and Zach.”